A bill brought by State Rep. Zack Hawkins seeks to raise salaries and improve benefits for many North Carolina public employees, according to the North Carolina State House.
Filed as HB 1054 on April 27 in the 2025 regular session, the bill carries the short title: ‘Gov’t Employee Raises & Retiree COLA.’
This summary is based on the bill text and clarifies key provisions.
The bill proposes, starting July 1, 2026, increased pay for a broad set of North Carolina public workers, expanded sick leave for State staff, and a cost-of-living adjustment for eligible retirees. The measure creates new salary schedules and supplements for teachers, principals, assistant principals, and additional school personnel. Central office and noncertified staff would also see pay increases, supported by funding totaling $939.8 million. Most State-supported employees—law enforcement, the judicial system, and community colleges—would receive a 7% raise or new pay scales. The bill details the use of these raise funds. Additional sick leave measures begin July 1, 2027. Retirees would receive a 3% cost-of-living adjustment, with $250 million proposed for funding and adjustments for recent retirees.
Hawkins is listed as one of four primary sponsors, and with 51 bills introduced, had the highest bill sponsorship count in the 2025 regular session.
North Carolina’s legislative process involves several phases before any measure becomes law. Bills are first filed, then assigned to committees for discussion and must pass three readings in each legislative chamber. Any changes between chambers require consensus. If the same version passes both, the bill is sent to the governor, who may sign, veto, or take no action for 10 days (or 30 if the General Assembly isn’t in session), which can allow it to become law without a signature.
For details on bills and recent legislative actions, see this overview.
Hawkins holds a Bachelor of Science from Elizabeth City State University.
A member of the Democratic Party, Hawkins was first elected in 2019 to represent North Carolina’s 31st House district following the retirement of Henry Michaux Jr..
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zack Hawkins, Carolyn G. Logan, Phil Rubin, and Renée A. Price | HB 1054 | 04/27/2026 | Gov’t Employee Raises & Retiree COLA. |
| Zack Hawkins, Cynthia Ball, Julie von Haefen, and Lindsey Prather | HB 1017 | 04/21/2026 | Sound Basic Education for Every Child. |
| Zack Hawkins, Allison A. Dahle, and James Roberson | HB 1023 | 04/21/2026 | Divine Nine Special Registration Plate Act. |
| Zack Hawkins, Aisha O. Dew, and Pricey Harrison | HB 1011 | 04/15/2025 | NC Compassionate Care Act. |
| Zack Hawkins, Jarrod Lowery, and Robert T. Reives, II | HB 1004 | 04/10/2025 | UNC AI & Technology Hubs. |
| Zack Hawkins, Amber M. Baker, Frances Jackson, PhD, and Julie von Haefen | HB 910 | 04/10/2025 | DRIVE Recommendations/Teacher Diversity. |
| Zack Hawkins, Julie von Haefen, Maria Cervania, and Pricey Harrison | HB 922 | 04/10/2025 | North Carolina Consumer Protection Act. |
| Zack Hawkins, B. Ray Jeffers, Marcia Morey, and Vernetta Alston | HB 927 | 04/10/2025 | Durham Funding Bill. |
| Zack Hawkins, Allen Buansi, Harry Warren, and Tim Longest | HB 931 | 04/10/2025 | End Predatory Towing Fees and Practices. |
| Zack Hawkins, Donna McDowell White, and Sarah Crawford | HB 933 | 04/10/2025 | IDD Omnibus. |
| Zack Hawkins, Jake Johnson, Jeff Zenger, and Vernetta Alston | HB 934 | 04/10/2025 | AI Regulatory Reform Act. |
| Zack Hawkins, Beth Helfrich, Eric Ager, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 937 | 04/10/2025 | Keeping Our Coaches Act. |
| Zack Hawkins, Beth Helfrich, Mike Colvin, and Ya Liu | HB 951 | 04/10/2025 | SOS (State Owned Structures) Child Care Act. |
| Zack Hawkins | HB 954 | 04/10/2025 | Local Gov’ts Disaster Fund. |
| Zack Hawkins, Amber M. Baker, and Bill Ward | HB 957 | 04/10/2025 | HBCU/HMSI Omnibus. |
| Zack Hawkins | HB 977 | 04/10/2025 | Defend NC. |
| Zack Hawkins, David Willis, and Mike Colvin | HB 978 | 04/10/2025 | Est. Youth Mentoring Comm./Mentoring Funds. |
| Zack Hawkins | HB 988 | 04/10/2025 | Revise Law on Instant Bingo. |
| Zack Hawkins | HB 994 | 04/10/2025 | Western NC Support; Expand Comm. Eco. Dev. |
| Zack Hawkins, Carla D. Cunningham, Terry M. Brown Jr., and Vernetta Alston | HB 857 | 04/09/2025 | Create Alert/Missing Person w/ Disability. |
| Zack Hawkins, Cynthia Ball, Tim Longest, and Vernetta Alston | HB 823 | 04/08/2025 | County Service Districts/Research & URSD. |
| Zack Hawkins, Donna McDowell White, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 810 | 04/07/2025 | State Employee Bereavement Leave/Up To 40-Hrs. |
| Zack Hawkins, Hugh Blackwell, Jake Johnson, and Matthew Winslow | HB 819 | 04/07/2025 | DIT Agency Bill. |
| Zack Hawkins, B. Ray Jeffers, Marcia Morey, and Vernetta Alston | HB 783 | 04/03/2025 | Funds for Sidekicks Academy. |
| Zack Hawkins, Julie von Haefen, Monika Johnson-Hostler, and Vernetta Alston | HB 725 | 04/02/2025 | MOMnibus 3.0. |
| Zack Hawkins, Abe Jones, and Garland E. Pierce | HB 726 | 04/02/2025 | Youth Mentoring & Academic Enhancement Comm. |
| Zack Hawkins, B. Ray Jeffers, Marcia Morey, and Vernetta Alston | HB 731 | 04/02/2025 | Funds for Pauli Murray Center. |
| Zack Hawkins, Jordan Lopez, and Marcia Morey | HB 733 | 04/02/2025 | The Everybody Eats Act. |
| Zack Hawkins, Becky Carney, Deb Butler, and Pricey Harrison | HB 742 | 04/02/2025 | Healthy and High-Performing Schools. |
| Zack Hawkins, Ben T. Moss, Jr., Maria Cervania, and Pricey Harrison | HB 745 | 04/02/2025 | Fair Competition Study Act. |
| Zack Hawkins, Amber M. Baker, B. Ray Jeffers, and James Roberson | HB 639 | 04/01/2025 | Prioritize In-State Applicants/UNC Ed Schools. |
| Zack Hawkins, Jonathan L. Almond, Rodney D. Pierce, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 688 | 04/01/2025 | Funds for Inclusive Playgrounds. |
| Zack Hawkins, Donny Lambeth, Laura Budd, and Ray Pickett | HB 578 | 03/31/2025 | The Jason Flatt Act of North Carolina. |
| Zack Hawkins, Donna McDowell White, Sarah Crawford, and Vernetta Alston | HB 551 | 03/27/2025 | Clubhouse Expansion. |
| Zack Hawkins, Donnie Loftis, Jerry “Alan” Branson, and Mike Schietzelt | HB 472 | 03/20/2025 | Commercial Vehicle & Cargo Protection. |
| Zack Hawkins, Aisha O. Dew, Jordan Lopez, and Pricey Harrison | HB 413 | 03/17/2025 | Marijuana Legalization and Reinvestment Act. |
| Zack Hawkins, Allen Buansi, B. Ray Jeffers, and Renée A. Price | HB 416 | 03/17/2025 | Funds for Boys & Girls Clubs. |
| Zack Hawkins, Cynthia Ball, Julie von Haefen, and Lindsey Prather | HB 420 | 03/17/2025 | Sound Basic Education for Every Child. |
| Zack Hawkins, David Willis, Jake Johnson, and Steve Tyson | HB 424 | 03/17/2025 | Gaming Laws/Allow Certain Social Games. |
| Zack Hawkins, Carolyn G. Logan, Frances Jackson, PhD, and Pricey Harrison | HB 401 | 03/13/2025 | Allow Lottery Winners to be Confidential. |
| Zack Hawkins, Allison A. Dahle, and James Roberson | HB 407 | 03/13/2025 | Divine Nine Special Registration Plate Act. |
| Zack Hawkins, Ray Pickett, Tricia Ann Cotham, and Ya Liu | HB 378 | 03/11/2025 | Leon’s Law (Dual Enrollment Info Parents). |
| Zack Hawkins, Julie von Haefen, Kanika Brown, and Pricey Harrison | HB 344 | 03/10/2025 | Litter Reduction Act of 2025. |
| Zack Hawkins, James Roberson, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 259 | 03/03/2025 | Brown-Morgan Science Olympiad Grant. |
| Zack Hawkins, Jordan Lopez, Terry M. Brown Jr., and Vernetta Alston | HB 256 | 02/27/2025 | Allow Public Employee Collective Bargaining. |
| Zack Hawkins, B. Ray Jeffers, Marcia Morey, and Vernetta Alston | HB 208 | 02/25/2025 | Partnership for Children Information Access. |
| Zack Hawkins, B. Ray Jeffers, Marcia Morey, and Vernetta Alston | HB 209 | 02/25/2025 | Employee Housing/Durham County. |
| Zack Hawkins, James Roberson, Monika Johnson-Hostler, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 65 | 02/05/2025 | Sigma Gamma Rho Special Registration Plate. |
| Zack Hawkins, Lindsey Prather, Marcia Morey, and Pricey Harrison | HB 20 | 01/29/2025 | Fair Maps Act. |
| Zack Hawkins and Howard Penny, Jr. | HB 21 | 01/29/2025 | Drivers License Designation/Autism. |
